Cardinals Take Command in Opening Period

Mitchell Furnishes Gophers with 12 Points, Six Rebounds

WASHINGTON, D.C. — An offensive rebound by Elizabeth von Ende (Leawood, Kan./American Hebrew Academy) set up a layup by Amber Smith (Baltimore, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) on Goucher's first possession of tonight's Landmark Conference game against Catholic. But the 2-0 advantage Smith's layup produced proved to be Goucher's only lead of the contest as the Cardinals defeated head coach Didi Cotton's Gophers, 54-44.

Although the Cardinals (6-2, 1-0 Landmark) failed to score on single point on their first eight possessions of the contest, they pulled even with the Gophers (2-5, 0-1 Landmark) at 2-2 on a layup by Jenny McGann with 16:01 left to play in the first half. When Goucher's subsequent possession ended with a turnover, Catholic went ahead for good when McGann got another layup to fall with 15:22 showing on the clock.

McGann's three-point field goal with 1:20 remaining before halftime provided the Cardinals with their biggest lead (35-19) of the opening period.

Down by 15 at the break, Goucher outscored Catholic, 13-6, over the first 7:02 of the second half, closing to within 41-33 on a jumper by Ebony Winn (Edgewood, Md./Joppatowne). The Gophers reduced their deficit to as few as seven points (49-42) on a basket by Candra Scott (Bowie, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) with 4:43 left to play, but then went 1-for-5 from the field and committed three turnovers the rest of the way.

Goucher's only double-digit scorer was freshman Victoria Mitchell (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore City College), who had six rebounds to go along with her 12 points.

For Catholic, McGann earned scoring honors with 11 points.